Best Section Hikes Of The PCT: The Sierra

This is Part 2 of a five-part series. For an explanation on why this series is happening, check out Part 1.

The Sierra are widely regarded as the “best” section of the Pacific Crest Trail (although Washington is usually a very close second).

Honestly, if you're looking to hike only a small portion of the PCT, then practically any section of the Sierra would make an incredible section hike (except maybe for the section immediately after Kennedy Meadows – not much to see there except a burn and some cows).

Some things to keep in mind whilst hiking in the Sierra:

Bear canisters are required on the majority of the PCT between Lone Pine and Bridgeport.

Fires are generally not permitted at altitudes above 10,000 ft / 3,048 m (always make sure to check current conditions and restrictions on fires).

Afternoon thunderstorms mean that higher elevations and passes are best conquered in the morning.

NOTE: all the mileage, elevations, and routes described here are taken from the 2015 versions of Halfmile's PCT Maps. Get the maps here. Please note that the mileage may be slightly different in subsequent map versions.

You might even get to cross this bridge! (PCT 797.5)

OVERVIEW: The Sierra are not the most accessible of places and so there aren't a ton of places you can simply pop on and off the PCT.

A lot of access the the trail is done via detouring over passes not on the PCT. I tried to make the start and end all the hikes described here in relatively accessible places, but just know that you may be taking a long drive down a dirt mountain road to get to some of these trailheads.

The PCT in the Sierra has plenty of spectacular and incredible hikes. The ones listed here simply a few of countless suggestions for shorter-than-thru-hike backpacking trips. If you aren't afraid of maps and are interested in branching out from the hikes listed here, I encourage you to check out Halfmile's California Section G, California Section H, and California Section I maps to plot your own route. (MAPS)

Again, it is required by law (and rangers do give tickets) that you carry a bear canister in most of the Sierra.

NOTE: I was conservative on the mileage for many of these hikes and typically did not assume more than 12 mi / 19 km per day. However, if you're looking for more of a challenge, I've included extensions at the end of each section so that you can conquer as much of the PCT as possible. In the event you're saying “That's not conservative!”, I've also included some ways to shave miles for most of the hikes.

This trail begins at the Onion Valley Trailhead, 13 mi / 21 km west of the town of Independence on Highway 395.

From the parking lot, follow the trail 4.8 mi / 7.7 km up to Kearsarge Pass (11,771 ft / 3,588 m). When descending the western side of the pass, stay to the right at each of the two junctions to meet the PCT at PCT mile 789.1 (10774 ft / 3,284 m), 2.8 mi / 4.5 km past Kearsarge.

However, if you want to change up the scenery a bit on the way back, you can take a left at the first junction to pass Bullfrog Lake and will only have an extra .6 mi / 1 km to walk once reaching the PCT.

When you reach the PCT, head north and over Glen Pass (PCT 791.1 – 11,947 ft / 3,650 m) towards before descending down to Rae Lakes. There are three lakes here: Upper, Middle, and Lower. Middle and Lower Rae Lakes have nice campsites as well as a ranger station between them.

I would suggest arriving here as early as you can, because you're going to want some time to enjoy some lakeside activities before the sun goes down.

When you reach Thousand Island Lake you will begin the loop portion of the trail. You can take either the PCT or the John Muir Trail (JMT) south to where they meet again near Devils Postpile (PCT 909 7,681 ft / 2,341 m). The route described here follows a clockwise loop; if you head counterclockwise, taking JMT south, you will save yourself 1,570 ft / 478 m of climbing).

Devils Postpile.

When you reach the southern PCT/JMT intersect, continue along the PCT south for another 1.8 mi / 2.9 km until you come to the Devils Postpile Trail (PCT 907.2 – 7,486 ft / 2,282 m). Take this trail north 1.6 mi / 2.6 km north through Devils Postpile until reaching the PCT/JMT junction again.

This time take the JMT and head north back towards Yosemite. Yes, this trail requires that you cross both Donohue and Island Pass twice; and no, it isn't a true loop. If it really bothers you that much then you can simple start at Red's Meadow (near Devils Postpile) and hike up to Thousand Island Lake and back. Otherwise, enjoy Tuolumne and your trip in the Sierra.

EXTENSION: If you want to turn this into a longer hike, then you can try starting off at the Happy Isles Trailhead in Yosemite (the northern terminus of the JMT) and then ending at Tuolumne. This gives you an additional 22.5 mi / 36.2 km of Yosemite to explore hiking up to Tuolumne, and takes you past some of the park's best-known sights.

ALTERNATE 4/5 DAY HIKE: If you don't like the sound of this hike, you can opt for another trek, also starting from Tuolumne Meadows, but heading north on the PCT instead of south. Hike 30.2 mi / 48.6 km up to the Benson Lake Trail at PCT 972.7 (7,601 ft / 2,317 m) and hike .4 mi / 650 m SW to Benson Lake. This is a great place to hang out, camp, and enjoy yourself. When you're finished, head back the way you came to Yosemite, or continue north towards Sonora Pass (PCT 1016.9) and Highway 108 to complete California Section I (MAPS).

Once you meet the PCT, head north to begin your climb up and over Muir Pass (PCT 838.6 – 11,973 ft / 3,649 m), home to the iconic Muir Hut (and a bunch of marmots). Descending from Muir Pass the trail passes a series of stunning alpine lakes including Wanda Lake and Evolution Lake.

After 19.9 mi / 32 km of hiking northbound on the PCT from the Bishop Pass junction, you'll have to cross Evolution Creek (PCT 850.9 – 9,201 ft / 2,804 m). You will get wet completing this crossing. In high snow years, this crossing can be dangerous, so if you're worried, before reaching the creek (at PCT 850.1) you can take an alternate route to safely get across.

Your climb once you meet the PCT.

Another 6.2 mi / 10 km later and you'll be at the junction for Muir Trail Ranch (PCT 857.7, 7,758 ft / 2,365 m). If you need to bail or have some sort of emergency, Muir Trail Ranch can be reached via a 1.5 mi / 2.4 km trail off the PCT. Continuing north, the trail heads over Selden Pass (10,910 ft / 3,325 m), and farther north the PCT crosses Bear Creek – which can also be a difficult ford (PCT 869.1).

Not long after Bear Creek you'll pass the Bear Creek Trail junction (PCT 872.4 – 8,944 ft / 2,726 m) which can take you down to Lake Edison and Vermilion Valley Resort (VRR). Further up the PCT and you'll pass the Lake Edison Ferry Trail junction (PCT 878.8 – 7,899 ft / 2,408 m) which will bring you to a ferry that can take you to VVR. If you have more time and you are thinking about heading to VVR for whatever reason, you can find out more about how to get there from the PCT here.

Past Lake Edison the trail climbs over Silver Pass (PCT 884.9 – 10,748 ft / 3,276 m) before finally making its way up to Red's Meadow (.3 mi / .5 km NE of PCT 906.7). If you have the time, Devils Postpile is only a short hike away from Red's and is worth checking out, even if you aren't continuing towards Yosemite.

From Red's you can either have some very nice person pick you up, hitchhike, or a shuttle into Mammoth Lakes.

A nice place to camp on your last night – Virginia Lake.

EXTENSION: If you want to extend this hike by another 35.8 mi / 57.6 km you can continue to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite. This trail will take you past Thousand Island Lake, over Island Pass (10,227 ft / 3,117 m), over Donohue Pass (11,073 ft / 3,375 m), and then through Lyell Canyon before arriving in Yosemite and Tuolumne Meadows.

If you want to add even more miles, you can tack on an additional 22.5 mi / 36.2 km by hiking from Tuolumne down the John Muir Trail (JMT) to the Happy Isles Trailhead (the JMT's northern terminus) in Yosemite Valley. This trail will take you past the Mist Trail, Vernal Falls, and a trail for Clouds Rest (which I suggest you check out if you have the time). This route isn't part of the PCT (it's part of the JMT), but it's a great way to extend the hike nonetheless.

SHORTENING THE HIKE: You can bail and get off-trail at Vermilion Valley Resort to shave about 30 mi / 48 km off this hike. However, I don't know how easy getting a ride from VVR down to Fresno (the closest city) would be if you don't have someone willing to pick you up.

ALTERNATE WEEK-LONG HIKE: Start yourself off at Tuolumne Meadows and hike California Section I (MAPS) instead. You will encounter far fewer hikers than you would south of Yosemite, and you'll still get some incredible scenery. The trail also stays lower than it here than does further south – so take what you will from that. Make sure to stop and hang out (or camp) at Benson Lake (.4 mi / .6 km SW of PCT 972.7). You're welcome.

SHORTENING THE HIKE: Maybe with the resupply this hike is not going to give you the time you want to stop and just be a bum in the Sierra. That's alright, you've got options to shave about 25 mi / 40 km by either: 1) starting this hike by crossing Kearsarge Pass and heading north from PCT 788.3, or 2) ending the hike at VVR.

ALTERNATE START: If you get yourself a permit for climbing Mt. Whitney you could also begin (or end) this hike at Whitney Portal You will meet the PCT 22.5 mi / 36 km up from Horseshoe Meadow, but the trek over from Whitney Portal will add another 14.6 mi / 23.5 km, and a lot of elevation change, to the hike (add 3.8 mi / 6.1 km if summiting).

EXTENSION: Thinking about crushing miles in the Sierra? Have more days? You could just complete the entirety of California Section H and head all the way to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite – another 35.8 mi / 57.6 km past Red's Meadow. If you're thinking about doing this, then you had might as well just hike the John Muir Trail because that's almost where you're at in terms of